Chapter 2: The Truth Unraveled
Twenty-four hours later, the Sterling manor was under lockdown. Julian had called in Dr. Evans, a trusted family friend, to flush the toxins from Clara's system. Thankfully, Victoria hadn't managed to make her swallow enough to be lethal, but the psychological damage was deep.
Julian sat by Clara’s bedside, holding her fragile hand. The bruises on her face, inflicted by his mother’s hired thugs over the past week while Julian was away on "business" (a business trip Victoria had explicitly engineered), made his blood boil.
"She told me you knew," Clara whispered, her voice raw. "She said you wanted the money to save the company. That’s why I almost drank it. I thought... I thought you hated me."
Julian felt a tear slip down his cheek. He pressed his forehead against her hand. "Never, Clara. The company is fine. She used it as an excuse. Her greed is a disease. I was sent to Chicago on a fake lead she created just to get me out of the house."
A knock on the door interrupted them. Maria entered, her cheek still swollen but her eyes burning with resolve. She handed Julian a flash drive.
"What is this, Maria?" Julian asked.
"Before Mrs. Sterling took over the room, she had the security feeds in the west wing turned off," Maria explained. "But she forgot about the hidden nanny-cam I installed last month after I noticed Mrs. Clara's bruises. It recorded everything, Mr. Julian. The threats, the physical abuse, and her admitting to drugging the tea."
Julian took the drive, his grip tightening until his knuckles turned white. Victoria hadn't just crossed a line; she had burned the bridge down.
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Suddenly, the house alarms blared.
Julian rushed to the window. Down in the courtyard, two sleek black SUVs had pulled up, blocking the gates. Downstairs, the heavy front doors were being rattled. Victoria wasn't done. She knew that if Clara lived to talk, her social status, her wealth, and her freedom would vanish. She had returned to finish the job and destroy the evidence.
